The 2026 EARTH workshop will be hosted by MBARI and held July 26–31, 2026, in Monterey, California. During this weeklong program, educators will collaborate with active researchers to explore cutting-edge ocean and climate science projects. Participants will gain hands-on experience with real data collected from ships, floats, gliders, buoys, and other marine technologies. Dedicated time is provided for teachers to translate these experiences into classroom-ready lessons that reflect both current science and their students’ learning needs, while aligning with education standards and effective pedagogy.In addition to curriculum development, educators will build lasting connections with fellow teachers and researchers, fostering professional networks that extend well beyond the workshop.Why Attend the EARTH Workshop?Teachers involved in this EARTH workshop will:Build relationships with researchers and peers that can spark future collaborationsAccess MBARI resources and institutional partnerships to enrich classroom learningTake part in field experiences that highlight local environments, watershed management, and marine researchEarn a Certificate of Participation documenting 40 hours of professional development, applicable toward continuing education or certificate renewalCreate curriculum resources that use authentic science and data to engage students in both content and scientific practices Applications for the 2026 workshop are now open. All application materials, including lesson plan feedback, are due by February 15, 2026 for consideration in the 2026 workshop.Apply to attend the EARTH 2026 Workshop Date July 26 - 31, 2026 Location Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute Moss Landing, CA Co-Host Global Ocean Biogeochemistry Array (GO-BGC) Lesson Plans Float Away… How do we study the ocean? This lesson is intended as an introduction to the use of floats in the ocean. Students will create a comic strip based on how we can measure the ocean with a float. Floating with PUPCYCLE This activity allows students to incorporate data visualization skills to explore some of the data used to identify highly productive regions. Students will compare BGC-Argo Float data (e.g., chlorophyll, dissolved oxygen) to Satellite data (e.g., chlorophyll) Graphing pH Students will explore the topic of ocean acidification. They will construct, analyze and interpret a pH graph. Graphing Temperature Students will construct, analyze, and interpret real data from a profiling float in the ocean. Students will explore ocean temperature trends and climate change. Making the Invisible Visible Students will be analyzing the spectrogram of an ocean soundscape and create their own spectrogram with a song of their choice. Ocean Checkup—How Do You Measure the Health of the Ocean Students will compare dissolved oxygen and chlorophyll a data collected at 3 different locations by Argo floats. Ocean Data GOES from Space Argo the Sea In this lesson, students will compare and contrast satellite data to float data. Our Ocean is Trending Students will learn how to access data from GO-BGC floats in order to analyze and compare properties such as dissolved nitrates, oxygen and chlorophyll levels. Phytoplankton + Productivity 5E Students will be analyzing select GO-BGC float data to find a connection between chlorophyll-a and dissolved oxygen Profiling Phytoplankton Students will learn about different phytoplankton and what impacts their distribution by building a water column representing the Southern Ocean. The Ocean Does the Robot In this introductory lesson, students will become familiar with accessing and reading float data. EARTH 2025 participants at the Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport, Oregon Schedule Sunday, June 23 Monday, June 24 Tuesday, June 25 Wednesday, June 26 Thursday, June 27 Friday, June 28 Sunday, June 23 Time Activity 1400 Arrival and check-in 1700–1900 Welcome Reception (optional but recommended)—Introductions and overview of the week. We will be serving heavy appetizers and non-alcoholic drinks. Location: TBD Pre-workshop survey—available soon Monday, June 24 Time Activity 0800-0830 Breakfast 0830-0900 Introductions; Overview of goals and objectives of workshop 0900-1000 Science/Research Presentation 1000-1015 Break 1015-1100 Dataset exploration 1100-1200 Lesson Evaluations 1200-1300 Lunch 1300-1400 Science/Research Presentation 1400-1445 Dataset exploration 1445-1500 Break 1500-1645 Lesson Evaluations 1645-1700 Daily Evaluation 1800 Dinner Tuesday, June 25 Time Activity 0800-0830 Breakfast 0830-0900 Introductions; Overview of goals and objectives of workshop 0900-1000 Science/Research Presentation 1000-1015 Break 1015-1100 Dataset exploration 1100-1200 Presentation 1200-1300 Lunch 1300-1400 Science/Research Presentation 1400-1445 Dataset exploration 1445-1500 Break 1500-1600 Science/Research Presentation 1600-1645 Dataset exploration 1645-1700 Daily Evaluation 1800 Dinner Wednesday, June 26 Time Activity 0800-0830 Breakfast 0830-0900 Introductions; Overview of goals and objectives of workshop 0900-1100 Enrichment Activity 1100-1200 Lesson Evaluations 1200-1300 Lunch 1300-1600 Enrichment Activity 1600-1645 Brainstorming and topic selection; lesson expectations 1645-1700 Daily Evaluation 1800 Dinner Thursday, June 27 Time Activity 0800-0830 Breakfast 0830-0900 Morning overview 0900-0930 Brainstorming and topic selection; lesson expectations 0930-1200 Lesson plan development Lesson Plan Template—this file is view only, so you will have to make a copy for you/your group to work on Lesson Standards Checklist EARTH Lesson Checklist 1200-1300 Lunch – catered 1300-1700 Continued lesson plan development 1700-1730 Working dinner—Catered Evening On your own Friday, June 28 Time Activity 0800-0830 Breakfast—at WorkshopCheck out of lodging 0830-1000 Presentations—(15 minutes each) 1000-1015 Break 1015-1200 Presentations—(15 minutes each) 1200-1300 Lunch – Boxes to go 1300 Final Evaluation—Safe Travels Home! Presenters George Matsumoto MBARI Suggested Resources Coming soon…
Float Away… How do we study the ocean? This lesson is intended as an introduction to the use of floats in the ocean. Students will create a comic strip based on how we can measure the ocean with a float.
Floating with PUPCYCLE This activity allows students to incorporate data visualization skills to explore some of the data used to identify highly productive regions. Students will compare BGC-Argo Float data (e.g., chlorophyll, dissolved oxygen) to Satellite data (e.g., chlorophyll)
Graphing pH Students will explore the topic of ocean acidification. They will construct, analyze and interpret a pH graph.
Graphing Temperature Students will construct, analyze, and interpret real data from a profiling float in the ocean. Students will explore ocean temperature trends and climate change.
Making the Invisible Visible Students will be analyzing the spectrogram of an ocean soundscape and create their own spectrogram with a song of their choice.
Ocean Checkup—How Do You Measure the Health of the Ocean Students will compare dissolved oxygen and chlorophyll a data collected at 3 different locations by Argo floats.
Ocean Data GOES from Space Argo the Sea In this lesson, students will compare and contrast satellite data to float data.
Our Ocean is Trending Students will learn how to access data from GO-BGC floats in order to analyze and compare properties such as dissolved nitrates, oxygen and chlorophyll levels.
Phytoplankton + Productivity 5E Students will be analyzing select GO-BGC float data to find a connection between chlorophyll-a and dissolved oxygen
Profiling Phytoplankton Students will learn about different phytoplankton and what impacts their distribution by building a water column representing the Southern Ocean.
The Ocean Does the Robot In this introductory lesson, students will become familiar with accessing and reading float data.